Rider FAQs

There are several different communities to choose from, depending on your ability and what you’d like to experience within the event. These communities are set out below:

Gran Fondo Race
This is the Road Race, which is held on the full Gran Fondo route. The Race is the first community set off within the Gran Fondo. Riders. All riders require a Full Racing License to compete in Gran Fondo Race.
Riders start within individual UCI age group pens and compete for a podium place, as well as being able to qualify for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. Riders finishing within the top 25% of their age group over the Race and Sportive collectively with qualify.

Gran Fondo Sportive
The Gran Fondo Sportive starts behind the Race, with riders riding on the full Gran Fondo route. Riders do not require a race license to enjoy being part of the Sportive.
Riders are able to self-select expected average speeds, enabling similar ability of riders riding with others of different age groups and genders. Each speed option will have a specific start pen within the Sportive start gate.
Riders finishing within the top 25% of their age group over the Race and Sportive collectively with qualify.

Tour Classic is the UK's ONLY closed-road cycling event which is dedicated to riders who love to ride a true-classic or vintage road bikes. Riders have the chance to race or ride their pre-1987 classic cycle around the Medio route (56 miles). Riders can race for podium places or just ride and enjoy the traffic roads.
Everyone taking part in the Tour Classic are also invited to showcase their masterpiece in the Concours d’Elegance prior to setting off for the dedicated TC start area.

The Chrono and Team Chrono are both time trial events, held on a 16.4 mile closed-road circuit. Riders start on a fully produced start ramp, which is situated indoors within the heart of the Festival. Both events have a dedicated podium ceremony and riders are not required to hold a race license to enter.
The Chrono is a time trial for individual riders and is also a qualifier event for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, with the top 25% of each individual UCI age group qualifying.
The Team Chrono is a time trial for teams of four in five classifications: Men, Women, Mixed, Classic, Corporate.

The 828 Gravel Enduro is open to any team of four within the various classifications: Men, Women, Mixed, Corporate.
The Enduro is an endurance challenge, with each team riding in a relay format for the 12-hour duration. Teams compete for the podium places by riding the most laps of the 4-mile circuit within the duration of the event.

You don’t have to be a member of a club to take part in our Tour of Cambridgeshire events.

Can a group attending together, all ride together?

The Race gate is split into UCI Master’s Age Group pens so will have to start in separate pens if in different age groups. All other communities allow for groups in different age groups to ride together.

Registration Requirements

Is a Race License required?

The Gran Fondo Race is the only event which requires a full Race license. If you qualify for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, you will require a full Race license to compete.

Is a medical certificate required?

You do not require a medical certificate to enter the event but if you have a medical condition that may be affected by the event, you may need your GPs advice on taking part.
We ask all riders to fill in the medical questionnaire available on the website.

What are the distances and elevations of the routes?

All event information, including distances can be found on the individual event pages on the website.

Rules and Regulations

What are the Bike Regulations for the Chrono?

Every competitor must ensure that his machine is constructed, equipped and maintained ensuring it is able to be ridden on the road safely at all times and in all conditions. The riding position shall be set so that the competitor has good forward vision when in a competitive position. In particular, but without prejudice to the general principles of this regulation:

Brake levers must be secured to the handlebars in such a position as to enable the competitor to readily apply both brakes whilst holding the handlebars at their widest point. The width of handlebars shall be no less than 35 cms.

On tricycles and tandem tricycles, two brakes may operate on the front wheel but otherwise the braking systems must operate independently on both front and rear wheels.

Bicycles with a fixed wheel shall have a left hand threaded locking device securing the fixed sprocket. Similarly, tricycles with a fixed wheel shall have a suitable locking device or alternatively shall include an integral system as part of the design. Machines with fixed wheel require only a brake operating on the front wheel(s).

What are the Bike Regulations for the Gran Fondo?

A Gran Fondo is a classified by the UCI as a race and not a Sportive, therefore governed by the UCI World Cycling Tour bike regulations:
“The riders can choose any bike they want (road bike, mountain bike, city bike, hybrid bike, cross bike…) with exception of tandem bike or recumbent. In a road race event, time trial bikes are forbidden.”

Are disk brakes allowed?

Disc brakes are also allowed in the UCI Gran Fondo World Series qualifiers and in the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.

Are tri-bars allowed?

Tri-bars are completely prohited in the Gran Fondo but can be used within the Chrono. Any rider seen using tri-bars in the Gran Fondo will be disqualified.

Entering

Which events are qualifiers for the UCI GF World Championships?

Gran Fondo Race
This is the Road Race, which is held on the full Gran Fondo route. The Race is the first community set off within the Gran Fondo. Riders. All riders require a Full Racing License to compete in Gran Fondo Race.
Riders start within individual UCI age group pens and compete for a podium place, as well as being able to qualify for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. Riders finishing within the top 25% of their age group over the Race and Sportive collectively with qualify.

Gran Fondo Sportive
The Gran Fondo Sportive starts behind the Race, with riders riding on the full Gran Fondo route. Riders do not require a race license to enjoy being part of the Sportive.
Riders are able to self-select expected average speeds, enabling similar ability of riders riding with others of different age groups and genders. Each speed option will have a specific start pen within the Sportive start gate.
Riders finishing within the top 25% of their age group over the Race and Sportive collectively with qualify.

Chrono
The Chrono is a time trial event, held on a 16.4 mile closed-road circuit. Riders start on a fully produced start ramp, which is situated indoors within the heart of the Festival. The Chrono have a dedicated podium ceremony and riders are not required to hold a race license to enter.
The Chrono is a time trial for individual riders and is also a qualifier event for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, with the top 25% of each individual UCI age group qualifying.

Please refer to the Terms and Conditions, which can be found on the website (Non-Transfer, Non-Refund and Deferral). There are no refunds available under any circumstances .
Deferrals are permissible if the Deferral Protection, which must selected at the time of entry. To defer entry under the Deferral Protection, email enquiries@tourofcambridgeshire.com.
In the event an entry is duplicated by a participant by mistake in either the Chrono or the Gran Fondo, the surplus entry fees will be refunded.

How are start times for the Chrono allocated?

Start times are allocated to riders as per age groups. Riders taking part in the Team Chrono, as well as the Individual Chrono will receive the earliest possible start time. There is no seeding other than by age group.

Your race age category is determined by your age on 31 December in the year of the event for the season. Therefore, it may look like you’re in the older age group at the time but you will be in that age group by the end of the year.

At the Festival

Are there toilet and shower facilities at the Event HQ?

Both permanent and portable toilet facilities will be available in both the Event HQ and Start Gate areas. There are also shower blocks available.

Is there Official Event Parking?

All Golazo Festivals have Official Event Parking. There is variable parking charges, which can be found on the individual event pages on the website.

Are there warm-up faculties at the event?

There will be a dedicated warm up area for the Chrono and Team Chrono. This will be set up and managed by the event organisers and will include all turbo trainers.
There are no dedicated warm up facilities for the Gran Fondo.

What time do the Start Gates open?

The start gates opening times will be published on the website and within the Ride Manual. All start gate are open with a first come first served process for where riders start within the start gate.

Within the Ride

Is there a time in which riders have to complete the Gran Fondo?

There will be a Pace Car marks the back of the event; any rider who find themselves behind the Pace Car will be out of the event and must abide by the Highway Code.
If the Pace Car passes a rider prior to the Gran Fondo cut off point, they must ride the Medio Route. The cut off point location and critical time of day is stated within the Ride Manual.
All riders will have their numbers removed if they are behind the Pace Car. They may wish to travel back to the Event HQ via the Broom Wagon

How should riders manage a mechanical fault?

There will be no mechanical assistant available on the route. Riders must be self-sufficient to affect mechanical repairs or wait for the Broom Wagon to repatriate back to the Event HQ.

Are team cars or team support allowed on the route?

All team cars and support outside of the event organisation is prohibited within the race.

What happens if a rider is in need of medical attention?

If you require medical attention while on the race route, contact the nearest official or make your way to the closest Pit Stop or Event HQ.

Do riders need to inform Event Organisers of a medical condition?

We ask all riders to fill in the medical questionnaire available on the website. There is also space on the back of each rider number to enter their medical details.

What is available at the Pit Stops?

Energy products, fruit, sweet and savoury baked goods are all available within the Pit Stops. There is water available for riders, as well as toilet facilities and medical points within each of the Pit Stops.

Post-Ride

How are the Gran Fondo podium positions determined?

The Podium positions are determined from the first three riders over the finish line in each age group. These rider’s must start in the Race community.

How are the qualification places determined for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships?

The UCI Gran Fondo World Championship qualification places are determined by the chip time of each rider. Riders must start within the Race or Sportive communities and ride the full Gran Fondo route to qualify.
To qualify you have must finish in the top 25% of your age group. The number of riders qualifying is established by the number who start within each age group.

How do you riders find out if they’ve qualified for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships?

All results will be published on the event website within 8 hours post event. All riders who have qualified will have a ‘Q’ within the results.

What do you receive if qualify for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships?

All riders who qualify are able to claim a UCI medal within the Event HQ. An email will be received post event from the UCI inviting qualified riders to the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.

Is there post-event food and drink available?

Event organisers will provide riders with water after the race. Various food outlets will be available within the Event HQ for riders to purchase.